Desert Flower Looks to Etch Her Name into Epsom Oaks Lore, Where Fillies Become Queens

After conquering the G1 1000 Guineas, Desert Flower faces a sterner test: a mile and a half, elite company, and the dizzying climb through Tattenham Corner

After her 1000 Guineas triumph, Desert Flower now sets her sights on Oaks glory at Epsom / NEWMARKET

EPSOM DOWNS, Inglaterra (Special for Turf Diario).- Can Desert Flower follow in the footsteps of Love (Galileo) and complete the coveted English classic double of the G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Epsom Oaks in the same season? That question will be answered Friday at Epsom Downs, as Europe's most prestigious test for 3-year-old fillies takes center stage once again.

The Godolphin star will stretch out from the straight mile at Newmarket to the more demanding local configuration, with its mile and a half trip and the stiff climb turning into Tattenham Corner, a challenge unlike any other. Trained by Charlie Appleby, the daughter of Night of Thunder has proven flawless in five starts, earning her first top-level victory in the G1 bet365 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket last October. She returned in style to capture the 1000 Guineas by a length over Flight (Siyouni), who does not return for this engagement.

Aidan O’Brien, who has won the Oaks a record 10 times for Coolmore, will send out a trio in pursuit of yet another classic triumph. His leading chance appears to be Minnie Hauk (Frankel), winner of the Listed Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks at Chester and the mount of Ryan Moore.

The Ballydoyle team is completed by Whirl (Wootton Bassett), a sharp winner of the G3 Tattersalls Musidora S., and Giselle (Frankel), who landed the Listed William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies' S. at Lingfield.

Elwateen (Dubawi), trained by Saeed bin Suroor and racing for Shadwell Estate Company Ltd., is another to exit the 1000 Guineas, where she finished a promising fourth, just 2 1/2 lengths behind Desert Flower in only her second career outing.

The field is rounded out by Revoir (Study of Man), Wemightakedlongway (Australia), Qilin Queen (Pinatubo), and Go Go Boots (Night of Thunder).